JH/HS Principal Newsletter

Happy May Panther Nation!!! We have reached the FINAL month of the school year and with only 15 DAYS of school remaining, the time will fly by until we are on summer break! It has been a pleasure and joy having your child here as a student this school year. We have celebrated some awesome moments as a building and also have walked through some challenging times. But through it all, the staff and students of HPS continued to show up and represent themselves and the school in a positive manner!!!

I brought up the concept of “pedaling downhill” in last month’s newsletter. This concept is so important this time of year as for most of us, we want to coast into the finish at the end of the school year. However, those that continue to “pedal downhill” find there experience and finish to the school year more full and rewarding. May we all continue to “pedal downhill” towards the end of the school year and head into summer break on a positive note!

As always, I want to highlight a couple of items I included in the newsletter this month. First off, May is the month of conclusions. Please take a look and have the key dates and times for end of the year ceremonies, concerts, and class schedules! Second, SENIOR PARENTS, please read through the senior reminders one more time as there are many items pertaining to graduation and the week leading up to it.

Finally, please know that all stakeholders are here for ALL students to be successful. If there are any questions or concerns you have, please feel free to reach out to the staff and administration here at Hershey Jr/Sr High School and we will be more than happy to help make sure ALL students are successful and have a great experience here at Hershey!

We are excited to announce the April HPSEF Students of the Month!! These students exemplify the hard work and character we seek here at HPS!! Grade level winners include:

7th - Katie Fowler

8th - Dillon Lorensen

9th - Daytona Cohn

10th - Carly Foster

11th - Leone Pelser

12th - Lucio Carrizales

Additionally, the following students were selected as the Junior High and High School Student of the Month!

Junior High - Dillon Lorensen

Senior High - Lucio Carrizales

We are excited to continue to work with the staff here at HPS on the importance of PANTHER MOJO. This provides a simple framework for our staff and students to come back to when remembering what is foundational here at Hershey! MOJO stands for the following:

Meaningful Engagement

cOmmon Expectations

Joy in Learning

Opportunities for Growth

This month we return as a staff on the importance of OPPORTUNITY TO GROW! As we start the fourth quarter, we have the opportunity to revisit classroom expectations and what growing in learning looks like in the classroom. For us at Hershey, we want all stakeholders to know that when students are in the classrooms that we want 1) Learning from Mistakes 2) Student Work on Display and 3) Next Step Ready!

This year we will continue to look at and focus on strengthening our instruction through the Marzano Instructional Framework. This year we will take time to focus on the importance of Engagement Strategies in the classroom with the focus of using Friendly Controversy and Academic Games in the month of April.

Another layer to our framework on the 7-12 side will be the importance of Panther M.A.D.: 4 Ways Teachers Make a Difference each day in the classroom! We will collaborate with our staff to ensure that on a daily basis our students experience 1) On Grade Level Content 2) Strong Instruction 3) Strong Engagement 4) High Expectations.

It is our hope and expectation that, through deepening our understanding of the Marzano Framework as well as revisiting the 4 areas of Panther M.A.D, we can improve the student experience and see students Learn, Thrive, and Grow here at HPS!!

On Monday, May 12th, Hershey Public Schools is proud to host a Sports Performance and Nutrition night. This event is being held in conjunction with the Hershey Public Schools Educational Foundation and will feature an athletic combine for students in 5th-6th-7th grade starting at 5:00 PM as well as presentations by Beth Poad (Sports Nutritionist @ University of Wisconsin) and Coach Chris Stier starting at 6:00PM. Parents and students are welcome to attend this event here at HPS!

Hershey Junior/Senior High wrapped up the spring season of state testing at the end of April. Students showed up and gave great efforts on their NSCAS, MAPS, and ACT tests over the course of two weeks! Thank you to the HPS staff for preparing our students for this season and also for proctoring testing during this time. Additionally, thank you to Mrs. Sarah Ostmeyer and Mr. Kort Smith for all of their work behind the scenes to ensure our testing season went smoothly. We look forward to seeing the spring data and celebrating the successes of the 7-12 Panther student body!

With the hustle and bustle of the month of May, I wanted to take a place in the newsletter to highlight the spring concerts and awards ceremonies we will be holding during the month of May!

• HPS Baccalaureate Ceremony (Hershey Baptist) - Sunday, May 4th @ 7:00 PM
• 7-12 Academic Honors Ceremony - Tuesday, May 6th @ 10:00 AM
• Spring JH/HS Choral Concert - Tuesday, May 6th @ 7:00 PM
• 2025 HPS Graduation - Saturday, May 10th @ 10:00 AM

5.1.25 - Boys Golf @ SPVA Championships (Lake Maloney G.C.)

5.1.25 - JH Track @ Chase County Invite (Chase County H.S.)

5.2.25 - HS Track @ SPVA Championships (Chase County H.S.)

5.4.25 - HPS Baccalaureate Service @ Hershey Baptist Church

5.5.25 - JH/JV Track @ North Platte Invite (North Platte High School)

5.5.25 - FFA Ice Cream Social & Parent Meeting (HPS Cafeteria)

5.6.25 - 7-12 Academic Honors Ceremony (Activities Center)

5.6.25 - Girls Tennis @ Lexington Dual (Plum Creek Park)

5.6.25 - JH/HS Choir Concert (Activities Center)

5.8.25 - Girls Tennis @ Kearney Catholic Invite (Harmon Park)

5.8.25 - Boys Golf @ NPSP Invite (Rivers Edge G.C.)

5.8.25 - JH Track @ SPVA Championships (Hershey H.S.)

5.8.28 - HS Track @ Ord Invite (Ord H.S.)

5.9.25 - 6th Grade Bump Up Day (9:30-10:30)

5.10.25 - HPS Graduation (Activities Center)

5.12.25 - HPS Athletic Performance & Nutrition Night

5.12.25 - HPS School Board Meeting (Collaboration Space)

5.13.25 - Boys Golf @ Sutherland Invite (Oregon Trails G.C.)

5.13.25 - Girls Tennis @ Ogallala Invite (Ogallala H.S.)

5.15.25 - HS Track @ NSAA C-9 District Meet (Mitchell H.S.)

5.15.25 - Boys Golf @ Ogallala Invite (Crandell Creek G.C.)

5.16.25 - FFA @ COLT Conference (Aurora Leadership Center)

5.17.25 - FFA @ COLT Conference (Aurora Leadership Center)

5.17.25 - JH Track @ Junior High State Championships (Gothenburg H.S.)

5.19.25 - Boys Golf @ NSAA District Meet (Crandell Creek G.C.)

5.22.25 - Last Day of School

5.22.25 - Girls Tennis @ NSAA Class B State Meet (Woods Tennis Center)

5.23.25 - Girls Tennis @ NSAA Class B State Meet (Woods Tennis Center)

5.23.25 - HS Track @ NSAA Class C State Meet (Omaha Burke H.S.)

5.24.25 - HS Track @ NSAA Class C State Meet (Omaha Burke H.S.)

5.27.25 - Start of 7-12 Summer School (Liz Swartz Room)

5.28.25 - Boys Golf @ NSAA Class C State Meet (Jackrabbit Run G.C.)

5.29.25 - Boys Golf @ NSAA Class C State Meet (Jackrabbit Run G.C.)

We will continue to run Panther Power Hour here at Hershey throughout the second semester! Panther Power Hour is designed to provide a space for students to recover failed credit (11th & 12th grade only), make up tests and quizzes, or simply to have a quiet space to work on homework after school. Panther Power Hour is held Monday - Thursday from 4:00 - 5:00 PM and is staffed by an HPS teacher. The following rooms will be used for the following days:

Monday - Mrs. Swartz’s Room

Tuesday - Ms. Aylward’s Room

Wednesday - Mrs. Stoner’s Room

Thursday - Mrs. Eshleman’s Room

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mr. Cudney or Mrs. Pettera for more information!

Below is the schedule for the last week of school for 7-12 Hershey students:

• Classroom Review Dates - May 15th & 16th
• Monday (May 19th) Content # 1: Science / English / Industrial Arts / Business / Art
• Tuesday (May 20th) Content # 2: Social Studies/Ag Ed/Math/Spanish/ Health-PE-Music
• Wednesday (May 21st) - All Content Area Make Up - Alternative Activities = HS Helpers for Field Day
• Thursday (May 22nd) - Final Checkout

Once again this summer, Hershey will be offering summer school for 7-12 students who failed courses during the school year and would like to recover credit. Additionally, summer school is available for students who need to make up time due to excessive absences in order to receive full credit for classes taken this year. Summer School will start on Tuesday, May 27th and run through Monday, June 9th. Summer School session will run from 9:00 - 11:00 AM and 1:00 - 4:00 PM.

Mr. Cudney has been in contact with parents of students who have failed a semester 1 class and are currently failing a semester two class. However, for more information or to enroll your student in these sessions, please contact HPS 7-12 Principal, Jordan Cudney, ASAP to reserve your spot!

Summer months mean that summer strength and conditioning sessions are right around the corner!! All 7-12 Panther athletes are strongly encouraged to take part in summer strength and conditioning sessions led by Coach Chris Stier and other HPS coaches. Sessions will start on Monday, June 2nd, run Monday thru Thursday, and will be approximately 90 minutes in length. Fridays will be a make up day for students who want to make up a missed day during the week. The focus for Panther athletes during these summer sessions will be speed and agility, strength, and injury prevention. Sessions will run as follows starting on June 3rd:

• High School Boys: 6:15 - 8:00 AM
• High School Girls: 8:00 - 9:30 AM
• Junior High Boys & Girls: 9:30 - 10:30 AM

Sport specific open gym sessions will also be available during these times as well! Please contact specific sport head coaches for more information concerning times and locations for any/all open gym sessions!

• Student schedules are close to being released with the hope that students will be able to make changes to their 2025-2026 schedule prior to the end of the school year on May 22nd. Please have your son/daughter be on the lookout for information concerning this.

• We have been working with Awards Unlimited and Toxic Graphics to create boards to display ACT as well as NSCAS/MAPS testing achievement. This will provide a space where we can highlight and celebrate the great achievements of our students!

• We will be adding a homeroom class at the end of the day starting next fall. This will be a common time when students could have academic interventions, ACT/Pre-ACT Test Prep, Character Lessons, and have class/group meetings. We are working with staff right now to help clarify what this structure will look like on a weekly basis.

Below are some continued support from Mrs. Pettera and the guidance office for our junior and senior students!

• Continued appointments with Mrs. Pettera to review credits, career goals, and college plans.
• The next available ACT test is June 14th-late registration is May 28th (register at www.actstudent.org).
• Make an appointment with Mrs. Pettera to review credits, career goals, and college plans.
• Make college campus visits!
• Fill out college applications. If you have any questions be sure to consult Mrs. Pettera. Submit your application now, along with all necessary forms and application fee.
• Tell Mrs. Pettera where you have applied so transcripts can be sent.

• Seniors last day of regular classes is scheduled for Friday, May 2nd, 2025.
• The Baccalaureate Service is scheduled for Sunday, May 4th at 7:00 PM at Baptist Church in Hershey.
• Senior Trip to Omaha, NE is scheduled for Monday, May 5th with the bus departure 4:30 AM and North Platte pick up at 4:45 AM.
• Seniors will check out on Tuesday, May 6th, with breakfast being served starting at 8:15 AM.
• The High School Academic Awards Assembly will be held on Tuesday, May 6th at 10:00 AM.
• Senior Graduation Practice is scheduled for Wednesday. May 7th at 2:30 PM with Send Off to follow at 3:15 PM.
• Senior Speeches (President/Val/Sal) are due to Mr. Cudney and Mrs. Davis at 1:30 PM on Wednesday, May 7th
• Class of 2025 Graduation is scheduled for Saturday, May 10th at 10:00 AM in the Hershey Activities Center.

This is a friendly reminder that we want all students in school when classes are in session! We understand a variety of things come up which may make a student miss class. As a district, the following would be counted as excused absences for students if communicated by the parent/guardian:

• Physical or mental illness of the student or of a child whom the student is parenting (a physician’s verification is required after four (4) consecutive days of absence for illness)
• Severe weather
• Medical appointments for the student or for a child whom the student is parenting without a
• Death or serious illness of the student’s family member
• Attending a funeral, wedding or graduation
• Appearance at court or for other legal matters
• Observance of religious holidays of the student's own faith
• College planning visits
• Personal or family vacation
• School sponsored activities which require students to be absent from school
• Other absences which have received prior approval from parents and the Principal

For all unexcused absences, the following policy is in place to help ensure students have the needed class time to earn credit:

• Each student will be allowed a maximum of 9 absences per class, per semester. Time missed in excess of this limit will be made up in summer school or before and after school. Absences resulting from participation in school activities or suspensions will not count toward the 9-day limit. Students and parents will be informed after 6 absences from any class. Failure to make up the time will result in loss of credit. Elementary and Junior high absences in excess of 9 days must be made up or retention may become a consideration.
• A student may receive a waiver of make-up time if he or she can successfully demonstrate with documented evidence, to an attendance committee, that all absences, for which a waiver is requested, have been excusable absences.
• Note- Suspended days do not count toward the nine-day maximum if work is successfully completed.
• The following scale will be followed on reduction of credit for students grade 9-12:
• 10-14 days absent 1 credit deduction or waiver
• 15-19 days absent 2 credit deduction or waiver
• 20-24 days absent 3 credit deduction or waiver
• 25-29 days absent 4 credit deduction or waiver
• 30+ days absent 5 credit ded./no credit or waiver

In order to get students to class on time and begin lessons, the HPS tardy policy has been updated to the following

• Weekly Tardy List Ran Monday AM from Previous Week
• Detentions / ISS Assigned by Assistant Principal
• All to Be Served by End of Current Week

• Discipline Progression
  • 0-4 Tardies - Grace Period
  • 5-9 Tardies - 30 Minute Detention
  • 10-14 Tardies - 60 Minute Detention
  • 15-19 Tardies - 1 Day ISS
  • 20-24 Tardies - 2 Day ISS
  • 25-29 Tardies - 3 Day ISS
  • 30+ Tardies - TBD

Below is the bell schedule for the upcoming school year. We will have ONE LUNCH for all 7-12 students with a staggered release from 5th period as detailed below:

1st Period 8:15-9:03

2nd Period 9:06 - 9:54

3rd Period 9:57 - 10:45

4th Period 10:48 - 11:36

5th Period 11:39 - 12:26

1st HS Lunch: 12:20 - 12:57

2nd HS Lunch 12:23 - 12:57

JH Lunch 12:26 - 12:57

6th Period 1:00 - 1:48

7th Period 1:51 - 2:39

8th Period 2:42 - 3:42

On Friday School is let out at the end of 7th Period at 2:39 PM.

As district and breakfast menus are updated, they can be found at the following LINK: https://www.myschoolmenus.com/organizations/300

Students and families are encouraged to communicate concerns related to the mistreatment of others. For students, a trusted adult is the recommended point of contact. This can be an administrator, teacher, coach, or other trusted person. This adult will then work with administration to respond promptly and appropriately. Parents/guardians are encouraged to communicate concerns directly with HPS Administration.

The most important part of any school is the safety and well being of the students and staff! Several items exist within schools to support school safety. These include:

• Secured access during the school day. Visitors to school must check-in at the main office after they are allowed access through the office doors. All other doors are to be closed and locked during the course of the school day.
• Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is established. This provides a consistent student and staff response to potential emergencies. More information about SRP can be found at this LINK.
• Minimizing deliveries during the school day. We understand that a parent may wish to deliver food to students for special occasions, and we appreciate this. We discourage this from being a regular occurrence.
• Minimizing student visits to vehicles during the school day. Students that forget a school-related item in their vehicles may check-in at the main office before they are allowed to visit their vehicles.

We appreciate the important part our students, staff, and families play in keeping our school safe. This year we have run eight fire drills, four SRP drills, two tornado drills, and two bus evacuation drills all in an effort to help students and staff be prepared in the event of an emergency.

We believe that we want to continue to prepare our students in the case of an emergency so that we are prepared in the case of a true emergency!